UPSC QUIZ 29.03.2024

Explanation:

• Himachal Pradesh has instituted a one-year ban on the production, sale and storage of cotton candy or candy floss after the presence of potentially hazardous colouring agents was confirmed in samples.
• The ban is on the heels of states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa, which have implemented similar restrictions on harmful colouring agents.
• Consumption of snacks containing these artificial colours may pose long-term health risks, including Cancer.

Cotton Candy

• Cotton candy, also known as candy floss or fairy floss in some regions, is a type of spun sugar confectionery that is typically served at carnivals, fairs, and amusement parks.
• It is made by heating and liquefying sugar and then spinning it out through tiny holes where it re-solidifies in long strands.
• These strands are gathered onto a cone or stick, forming a fluffy, cotton-like texture.

Explanation:

• India's unemployed workforce constitutes about 83% of youth and the share of youth with secondary or higher education in the total unemployed youth is expected to almost double from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022 as per the India Employment Report 2024 released by India Employment Report 2024.

Key points

• India Employment Report 2024 has been prepared under the joint auspices of the Center for Employment Studies of the Institute of Human Development (IHD), New Delhi and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
• According to this report, 83% of the unemployed youth in India are unemployed.
• This unemployment has been concentrated among the youth, especially educated youth and women in urban areas.
• In the year 2022, the share of unemployed youth in the total unemployed population was 82.9 percent.
• The share of educated youth among all unemployed people increased from 54.2 percent in 2000 to 65.7 percent in 2022.

Explanation:

• In Arunachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister inaugurated the first oil mill under the National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). This is India's first integrated oil palm processing unit by 3F Oil Palm.
• The factory is located at Roing in the Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. This factory is the first oil palm factory in Arunachal Pradesh and the first oil palm factory in India under NMEO-OP.

National Mission – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• The Government of India launched the National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in August 2021. The mission is committed to increase oil palm cultivation and increase crude palm oil production to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26.
• NMEO-OP has made a provision of Rs 5,870 crore specifically for the North Eastern Region region out of the total national budget of Rs 11,040 crore for the promotion of oil palm, where 90% contribution will be made by the Central Government.

Explanation:

• An asteroid has been named 'Jayantmurthy' after Indian professor and eminent scientist Jayant Murthy.
• He is known for his work in space missions, ultraviolet astronomy, and the interstellar medium.
• Previously cataloged as 2005 EX296, the asteroid is now designated as (215884) Jayantimurthy.
• The announcement was made by the Working Group of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which is in charge of assigning names to small objects in the Solar System.
• In 2005, the Asteroid (215884) Jayantimurthy was discovered by MW Buie at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, United States.
• It completes a full orbit around the Sun between Mars and Jupiter every 3.3 years.
• In 2021, Professor Murthy retired from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA). Since then, he has served as Honorary Professor.
• He was also the acting director of IIA from July 2018 to October 2019.

Explanation:

• An expert committee appointed by the Supreme Court to look into the preservation of the Great Indian Bustard.
• This is a "non-negotiable" and "sustainable development requirement in the context of meeting the country's international commitments towards promoting renewable sources of energy".
• The ruling was made by a bench that included Manoj Mishra, JB Pardiwala, and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in handling a matter involving the Great Indian Bustard's (GIB) protection.
• The court has sought a report from the committee by July and listed the matter for the second week of August 2024.
• The Court underlined the importance of taking proactive measures to protect the GIB.
• The committee includes the Director of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Hari Shankar Singh, a Member of the National Board for Wildlife, Niranjan Kumar Vasu, Ex-Principal Chief Conservator of Forest.
• It also includes B Majumdar, former Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Maharashtra, and Devesh Gadhavi, Deputy Director of the Corbett Foundation, among others.
• In the regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat that the Wildlife Institute of India designated as priority areas, the committee will determine the scope, feasibility, and extent of overhead and underground power lines.